Re: [RBW] NorCal Coast Tour Route Feedback

2024-02-12 Thread Andrew Letton 
 Hi Stephen,Yes, when one sees the "Golden rollin' hills of California" in the 
summertime, it is hard to remember the North Coast rainforests! The hotter it 
gets inland, the foggier the coastline. It can be 100F thirty miles inland and 
a foggy 58F on the coast in July.As for mud, the dirt in the Lost Coast region 
is pretty rocky and drains well, so aside from low areas where rain washed silt 
(that fine dust of the summer) may accumulate, mud probably won't be a big 
issue. I've certainly never experienced the peanut-butter-mud that I've heard 
of in other areas.cheers,Andrew in 31C=88F Sydney, wishing for some North Coast 
fog!

On Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at 12:07:07 AM GMT+11, Stephen 
 wrote:  
 
 Thanks for the input Andrew! What a place to grow up! I've been up along the 
Usal Road to camp once before and I remember it being pretty rugged.. Don't 
mind a little extra dirt. I am curious just how wet it will be up thataways, 
and if itll be so muddy as to be problematic. Hard to say I guess, April is 
apparently the tail end of the rainy season. I always think of california as 
such a dry place I kind of forget that this whole route is basically riding 
through a rain forest.
On Sunday, February 11, 2024 at 5:22:42 PM UTC-5 Andrew Letton wrote:

 Hi Stephen,Looks like a great ride!I grew up in the Lost Coast area (Whale 
Gulch), so your first route goes right through my home turf.One thing that I 
find suspicious is that RWGPS seems to show some paved road between Four 
Corners and Dutchman's Flat, and I don't believe that's true. The Usal Road is 
pretty remote and depending on the time of year, not well maintained. I believe 
the county only maintains it during summer months, so in winter it is sometimes 
unpassable in a car. That shouldn't stop a bicycle, but you may find areas 
pretty rutted. YMMV! I've ridden it only once, in summer, and my problem was 
not bringing enough water, so plan accordingly. It's only about 26 miles, but 
as you can see from RWGPS, it's a pretty intense 26 miles! Don't let that scare 
you off, just be prepared. You will be rewarded by some spectacular country.  
You can probably fill water bottles at the Whale Gulch School, just before you 
get to Four Corners. After Four Corners, you'll be heading off into truly 
unpopulated areas and are unlikely to find much water. (Filter what you do 
find!) Oh, and if it is dust season (June-Sep), you may want to have a bandana 
around your neck, ready to pull up over your mouth/nose for when cars (very 
occasionally) pass. Ah, I just saw that you're thinking of April, so dust will 
not likely be an issue, but rain may be; you'll be riding through one of the 
wettest regions in the whole state! ;-)  
https://www.eldoradoweather.com/calprecip-full-size.htmlHave a great ride, and 
I look forward to your ride report...
cheers,Andrew, from Whale Gulch; now in Sydney
(Image from Google Street View at Four Corners)




On Monday, February 12, 2024 at 07:39:01 AM GMT+11, Stephen 
 wrote:  
 
 Hey All,
This week I've been fantasizing about a tour route from Eureka to SF that 
follows the PCH but avoids riding on it as much as possible (within reason). So 
I've been playing around in rwgps and Gaia Gps maps to make some route drafts, 
trying to stay close to the coast but choosing alternate roads and dirt roads 
as much as possible to avoid traffic. 
For the beginning of the route I used part of a Lost Coast tour route that ends 
and begins in Eureka. As for the end, I've done a fair bit of riding in Marin 
and have familiarity with the roads and trails up to Sir Francis Drake Road. 
Will probably make two different route endings, one for east bay and one for 
SF. (the route draft I have now is for eastbay) 
I was wondering if anyone on the list had experience in the other areas up the 
coast, or has done a similar ride, or been on any of the roads I've routed or 
had recommendations? Sometimes you see a road on a map and in reality its 
private access or washed away. Would appreciate any thoughts or feedback or 
anybody who wants to nerd out on maps and routemaking.
Playing with the idea of riding this on my appaloosa in April.
ROUTES:https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45561107
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45561484

Let me know if theres trouble accessing those.
Thanks!

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Re: [RBW] NorCal Coast Tour Route Feedback

2024-02-12 Thread Stephen 
Thanks for the input Andrew! 
What a place to grow up! I've been up along the Usal Road to camp once 
before and I remember it being pretty rugged.. Don't mind a little extra 
dirt. I am curious just how wet it will be up thataways, and if itll be so 
muddy as to be problematic. Hard to say I guess, April is apparently the 
tail end of the rainy season. I always think of california as such a dry 
place I kind of forget that this whole route is basically riding through a 
rain forest.
On Sunday, February 11, 2024 at 5:22:42 PM UTC-5 Andrew Letton wrote:

> Hi Stephen,
> Looks like a great ride!
> I grew up in the Lost Coast area (Whale Gulch), so your first route goes 
> right through my home turf.
> One thing that I find suspicious is that RWGPS seems to show some paved 
> road between Four Corners and Dutchman's Flat, and I don't believe that's 
> true. The Usal Road is pretty remote and depending on the time of year, not 
> well maintained. I believe the county only maintains it during summer 
> months, so in winter it is sometimes unpassable in a car. That shouldn't 
> stop a bicycle, but you may find areas pretty rutted. YMMV! I've ridden it 
> only once, in summer, and my problem was not bringing enough water, so plan 
> accordingly. It's only about 26 miles, but as you can see from RWGPS, it's 
> a pretty intense 26 miles! Don't let that scare you off, just be prepared. 
> You will be rewarded by some spectacular country.  You can probably fill 
> water bottles at the Whale Gulch School, just before you get to Four 
> Corners. After Four Corners, you'll be heading off into truly unpopulated 
> areas and are unlikely to find much water. (Filter what you do find!) Oh, 
> and if it is dust season (June-Sep), you may want to have a bandana around 
> your neck, ready to pull up over your mouth/nose for when cars (very 
> occasionally) pass. Ah, I just saw that you're thinking of April, so dust 
> will not likely be an issue, but rain may be; you'll be riding through one 
> of the wettest regions in the whole state! ;-)  
> https://www.eldoradoweather.com/calprecip-full-size.html
> Have a great ride, and I look forward to your ride report...
> cheers,
> Andrew, from Whale Gulch; now in Sydney
>
> [image: Inline image]
> (Image from Google Street View at Four Corners)
>
>
>
>
> On Monday, February 12, 2024 at 07:39:01 AM GMT+11, Stephen <
> cavell@gmail.com> wrote: 
>
>
> Hey All,
>
> This week I've been fantasizing about a tour route from Eureka to SF that 
> follows the PCH but avoids riding on it as much as possible (within 
> reason). So I've been playing around in rwgps and Gaia Gps maps to make 
> some route drafts, trying to stay close to the coast but choosing alternate 
> roads and dirt roads as much as possible to avoid traffic. 
>
> For the beginning of the route I used part of a Lost Coast tour route that 
> ends and begins in Eureka. As for the end, I've done a fair bit of riding 
> in Marin and have familiarity with the roads and trails up to Sir Francis 
> Drake Road. Will probably make two different route endings, one for east 
> bay and one for SF. (the route draft I have now is for eastbay) 
>
> I was wondering if anyone on the list had experience in the other areas up 
> the coast, or has done a similar ride, or been on any of the roads I've 
> routed or had recommendations? Sometimes you see a road on a map and in 
> reality its private access or washed away. Would appreciate any thoughts or 
> feedback or anybody who wants to nerd out on maps and routemaking.
>
> Playing with the idea of riding this on my appaloosa in April.
>
> ROUTES:
> https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45561107
> https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45561484
>
> Let me know if theres trouble accessing those.
>
> Thanks!
>
> -- 
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups 
> "RBW Owners Bunch" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an 
> email to rbw-owners-bun...@googlegroups.com.
> To view this discussion on the web visit 
> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/rbw-owners-bunch/b85ef52c-9455-42b7-9303-d53ffdb8067dn%40googlegroups.com
>  
> 
> .
>

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[RBW] NorCal Coast Tour Route Feedback

2024-02-11 Thread Stephen 
Hey All,

This week I've been fantasizing about a tour route from Eureka to SF that 
follows the PCH but avoids riding on it as much as possible (within 
reason). So I've been playing around in rwgps and Gaia Gps maps to make 
some route drafts, trying to stay close to the coast but choosing alternate 
roads and dirt roads as much as possible to avoid traffic. 

For the beginning of the route I used part of a Lost Coast tour route that 
ends and begins in Eureka. As for the end, I've done a fair bit of riding 
in Marin and have familiarity with the roads and trails up to Sir Francis 
Drake Road. Will probably make two different route endings, one for east 
bay and one for SF. (the route draft I have now is for eastbay) 

I was wondering if anyone on the list had experience in the other areas up 
the coast, or has done a similar ride, or been on any of the roads I've 
routed or had recommendations? Sometimes you see a road on a map and in 
reality its private access or washed away. Would appreciate any thoughts or 
feedback or anybody who wants to nerd out on maps and routemaking.

Playing with the idea of riding this on my appaloosa in April.

ROUTES:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45561107
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/45561484

Let me know if theres trouble accessing those.

Thanks!

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